有读者问: “get+宾语+不定式”结构与“get+宾语+现在分词”结构有何区别?
当get作“劝说、请求、吩咐等”解时,其后一般应接“somebody+不定式”,如:
(1)Let's get him to buy us lunch. (劝说)
(2)I got him to help me when I moved the furniture. (请求)
(3)He got them to repair the bridge. (吩咐)
但当get作“使,设法”解时,其后则既可接“宾语+不定式”,也可接“宾语+现在分词”。二者的区别主要在于:不定式强调动作的概括性,有潜能的含义;现在分词强调动作的具体性,有连续、重复、描写等含义。总的说来,不定式似乎较现在分词更为常见一些(有些英语词典只收纳前者,未收纳后者)。现举几例试比较如下:
(4)I finally got the radio to work . (to work单纯表能运转这一概念)
(5)I finally got the radio working .(working表进入正常运转状态)
(6)Get the bus to move . (车子有故障,to move表启动)
(7)Get the bus moving . (车子不一定有故障,moving表正常运行)
get表“设法使”时,其后的宾语有时亦可指人,试比较:
(8)If you can get them to talk your problem is solved.(to talk表开口)
(9)If you can get them talking your problem is solved. (talking表交谈起来)
但如属动作短暂的非持续动词,一般只用不定式,如:
(10)Can you get the car to start ? (不可用现在分词starting)
反之,强调进行状态时,则只用现在分词,如:
(11)We'll get the party going with some music. (不用不定式to go)
最后,应该指出,“get+宾语+不定式或现在分词”结构多用于英国,美国则多用have代替get。
